Star · F7IV
Merga
Merga is a subgiant star of spectral type F7IV in the constellation Boötes, 156.6 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | 38 Boo · HIP 72487 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Boötes |
| Distance | 156.6 light-years (48.0 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.76 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 2.35 |
| Spectral type | F7IV |
| Surface temperature | 6,470 K |
| Luminosity | 9.81 L☉ |
| Radius | 2.49 R☉ |
| Mass | 1.77 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 49m 18.7s |
| Declination (J2000) | +46° 06′ 58″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 18.4 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.76). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 44° S. North of latitude 44° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in May, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1869. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 2.8 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Merga, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 8.24, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Eridanus. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- GJ 3875 13.8 light-years
- 2MASS J15025475+5044252 15.7 light-years
- HIP 70792 15.9 light-years
- HIP 71989 16.8 light-years
- SDSS J141659.78+500626.4 18.9 light-years
- HIP 71165 19.8 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.